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Torsion Bars

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Old Jan 14, 2008 | 05:40 AM
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Torsion Bars

Okay so Saturday night I was goin to a bar and herd a really load pop. I thought that I had blown a tire or hit a huge pot hole... I happened not to be the case, My drivers side torsion bar split in two. Dont really know how. I have never adj. it or anything. Now the previous owner might have but I dont know. Didn't seem like it. Anyways my question is, is this something I can do myself, and what replacement do you guys recommend? I have a 93 4runner 4 wheel driver v6.
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Old Jan 14, 2008 | 05:52 AM
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Prolly can do yourself. But you'll need a good jack and a couple of jackstands to get the weight off the front wheels.
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Old Jan 14, 2008 | 05:57 AM
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Well that should be easy enough, but is there anytime I should replace them with?
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Old Jan 14, 2008 | 05:59 AM
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Wow, don't hear of that happening very often. Got any pics of the break? I've heard of the adjustment bracket ripping off the frame, but never the bar snapping.

I replaced both my t-bars a long time ago (one of the first mods I did myself) and I remember it seemed like a real PITA at the time. I made the mistake of getting the splines started in wrong and then I couldn't get it back out to try again. I was exhausted after wrestling with it for hours (it kicked my butt) I had to rest and hit it the next day. It helps too if you have a body lift (I have one now but didn't at the time).

Do you have a heavy winch bumper or anything in front?
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Old Jan 14, 2008 | 06:08 AM
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Originally Posted by Surfer
Okay so Saturday night I was goin to a bar and herd a really load pop. I thought that I had blown a tire or hit a huge pot hole... I happened not to be the case, My drivers side torsion bar split in two. Dont really know how. I have never adj. it or anything. Now the previous owner might have but I dont know. Didn't seem like it. Anyways my question is, is this something I can do myself, and what replacement do you guys recommend? I have a 93 4runner 4 wheel driver v6.
That sounds like there was a possibility someone switch sides maybe while reinstalling the bars after a mod. Who knows. We tend to adjust our torsion bars like crazy in the off road world or so it would seem.

I would purchase a pair of torsion bars and do them both.

Frank
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Old Jan 14, 2008 | 06:16 AM
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Originally Posted by mt_goat
Do you have a heavy winch bumper or anything in front?
No I dont. I will get pictures. So is there any T-bars that are recommend or anyone will do?
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Old Jan 14, 2008 | 06:25 AM
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Old Man Emu (OME) makes some pretty good suspension parts. Lots of folks like their leaf spring upgrades.
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Old Jan 14, 2008 | 06:26 AM
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I put 26mm bars in mine. Gives a nice ride and a little extra support up front.
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Old Jan 14, 2008 | 06:30 AM
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downey makes a good HD bar
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Old Jan 14, 2008 | 06:50 AM
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Originally Posted by InternetRoadkill
I put 26mm bars in mine. Gives a nice ride and a little extra support up front.
How hard was the install?
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Old Jan 14, 2008 | 07:05 AM
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The install is not hard. But I had the body off the frame at the time. The bars just slip into keyed splines on each end. The hard part is lining the splines up. You may need to remove any heat shields or other stuff that might be in the way, but basically once the tensions is off of them, they just slip out.
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Old Jan 14, 2008 | 07:08 AM
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Okay... Ya I wont have the body off the frame.. But looking at the bars it didnt look to to hard.
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Old Jan 14, 2008 | 07:11 AM
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From: San Antonio, Texas


You can see the torsion bar clearly here. It's that orange thing. The one thing that might cause you difficulty is if the splines are rusted in place. Be sure to put some grease on the new ones.
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Old Jan 14, 2008 | 07:15 AM
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Here are a couple old threads about t bars with discussion of what they do and who makes what. Lots of good info there. Good luck.

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f31/...nd-gens-68897/
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f31/...on-bars-28507/
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Old Jan 14, 2008 | 07:20 AM
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Thanks much
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Old Jan 14, 2008 | 07:26 AM
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Ooops. I didn't use the 26mm bars. Mine are 25mm from Swayaway. Very nice bars and a good ride.
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Old Jan 14, 2008 | 07:29 AM
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OME's are heard to be nice, I've heard from some that the Downey HD ones are super-stiff, S-A-W and L.C.E. make some too...whatever you decide to use, do both, they're sold in pairs anyways, and it'll keep the front feeling more even.
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Old Jan 14, 2008 | 07:37 AM
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Originally Posted by CanTheWhales
... however I've heard from some that the Downey HD ones are super-stiff....
Yeah that's what I put on (Downey 26mm) and they are very stiff. I'd only use them if you have a lot of weight up front. Even with a winch and heavy duty bumper I would like to have a little smaller bars on mine. With a stock truck I'd say go with the stock bars or 25 mm at the most.

My only worry is how did you manage to break the current bar, do you hit bumps going really fast or was there a defect in the bar that caused it to fatique over time or what?
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Old Jan 14, 2008 | 09:06 AM
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If the bar broke, it was probably pitted with heavy rust.
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Old Jan 14, 2008 | 09:18 AM
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OME are the way to go the others are just to stiff
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